By Barb Williams, Eastside Heritage Center volunteer
Pioneer families often raised chickens. The birds were inexpensive to feed, produced eggs for baked goods, meat for the table and a source of feather-down for pillows and quilts. Many of the Eastside pioneers raised chickens for their individual needs.
Dwight Skinner was one of several Eastside residents who raised chickens commercially. In 1912, Dwight and Nell Skinner bought a 40-acre tract of land on the Highland-Larsen Lake Road. The land had belonged to the Churchills and included a home, barn, feed room and two-story chicken house. Dwight suffered from heart problems and was often unable to work. He had 2,000 to 5,000 chickens whose eggs, he figured, would help to supply the income he needed.
L 86.024.004 - Mr. Harmon feeding chickens at Morelli chicken ranch, 1918
The Morelli brothers; Alfonso, Martin, Silvio and Tito immigrated from Italy and bought land along 148th Avenue in Redmond. They ran a thriving chicken ranch from 1915 to 1973. It was the biggest of its kind on the Eastside at the time. They had 15,000 chickens who had the run of long elevated chicken houses. The business became such a success that they operated through a middle-man and never had to advertise. In the 1940s, they pioneered in the use of electricity by installing timed electrical lights in the henhouses. The timers turned on the lights at 4 a.m. extending daylight hours, egg-laying time and egg production. In the 1970s, some of the Morelli land across 148th was developed into private homes. Silvio passed away in 1979 and Microsoft bought the land in the 1990s with the stipulation that Silvio’s wife, Albarosa, could remain in the family home as long as she wanted. She passed away in 1999 and Microsoft proposed turning her home into a library.
For nearly 40 years around 1922, 116th Avenue NE between Main Street and NE 8th in Bellevue was known as Lebanese Valley because most of the residents were from Lebanon. George Waham was a resident. He bought five acres and started a farm on which he raised chickens, a cow, rabbits, fruits and vegetables. During the Depression he and his wife fed other people including their large family.
OR/L 79.79.342 - Chicken in front of farm building, Willowmoor.
In 1927 two black men, A. Cunningham and C. James, came from Seattle to become the proprietors of the Wake Robin Lodge located in Enatai. Their business was the first on the Eastside to be operated by black people. The Lodge became famous for the fresh food raised on-site, especially its chicken dinners. Fruit trees and a large garden supplied produce. Long chicken coops stretched along the south side of the property with a small dairy nearby. Mr. Jones tended the chicken ranch which consisted of a number of chicken houses. He raised white leghorns. He lived with his wife onsite in a home under the water tank. The water, used for the chickens and lodge, was pumped uphill from a well on Lake Washington Boulevard. Due to the Depression, the Lodge closed in 1934.
Presently chickens can be found at Kelsey Creek Farm Park owned and managed by the City of Bellevue. Breeds of chickens are selected for their personalities, egg color, feather color and characteristics appropriate for public viewing. Wyandotte, Barred Rock, Ameraucana and Bantam are some of the breeds selected. The purpose of the farm is to educate people about animal husbandry. Chickens often feature in events and classes taught by farm staff. Some chickens are good egg-layers, others better for meat and some are dual-purpose. Historically they have connected with humans for a long time.
Sources:
Eastside Heritage Center archives
Carla Trsek, Kelsey Creek Farm Park staff
Culinary History of a Pacific Northwest Town by Suzanne Knauss. 2007
